Cafecito

Kara Zuaro

Citysearch

The Scene
On a well-traveled stretch of Avenue C, this storefront offers some of the most authentic Cuban flavors this side of the embargo. At a white-tiled bar, singles snack on tostones con ajo, fried plantains with an intensely garlicky dipping sauce, or sip sangria and mojitos as they await take-out orders. In the adjacent dining room, with low lights and bright Caribbean music, a young crowd squeezes into cozy tables.

The Food
A tempting and inexpensive menu makes it easy to try something new, and bollos, flavorful hush puppies studded with sweet corn and black beans, do the trick. Garlic lovers opt for the filling shrimp entree, camarones de ajillo, served with bread to soak up its soupy, well-seasoned broth. Skip the basic picadillo (traditional minced beef with rice) for the superlative cubano bocadillo with ham, pork, swiss, and pickles. The tres leches cake, soaked in milky sweetness, makes a fine finish.